BWA -- BkB Spring Protection Child happily fetching water
‘Clean Water for All’ is The Goal of Spring Protection Program in Uganda

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

BWA -- BkB Spring Protection Child happily fetching water
‘Clean Water for All’ is The Goal of Spring Protection Program in Uganda

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

In rural central and western Uganda, there are more than 200 villages where residents have no choice but to get their water from unprotected springs that are more often than not contaminated by human and livestock waste where bacteria, viruses and parasites breed.

In each village reside an average of 50 families, representing an estimated 250 children, parents, and elders who are forced to risk illness – even death – every time they take a drink of water.

That equals 50,000 people in those two regions alone!

In 2020, we partnered with Bega kwa Bega (“Shoulder to Shoulder” in Kiswahili) to fund a new, innovative, and cost-effective way to help the maximum number of people possible to have ready access to clean water for years to come by protecting these numerous spring sites from contamination.

Last year, thanks to the supporters of Bread and Water for Africa®, we were able to complete 12 spring protection site projects serving 3,600 households – roughly 14,400 individuals – and this year our goal is to match, or even increase that number for thousands more.

BkB program manager David Ssagala noted that the benefits of the spring protection projects not only increase access to safe water and reduce the incidences of waterborne diseases, but also “improve the safety of girls who have to trek long distances to water sources; reduce time wasted in search of clean water; improve family and personal hygiene, and boost agriculture through irrigation.”

In addition, through the program water committees are established and selected villagers are trained in the care and maintenance of the protected springs ensuring their long-term viability, as well as training the beneficiaries on water management, hygiene, and sanitation.

“Water is the most pressing need in these communities and is usually their first request,” David told us.

He also noted that in a few locations where there are commercial farmers, brick molders, or poultry farmers nearby who also need access to safe water for their business operations they have the opportunity to purchase water with the proceeds earmarked for the respective villages’ water committees.

“The earnings can help in sustaining the water source through routine maintenance and repair “to enable the water source to continuously provide clean and safe water for generations to come,” says David.

Surprisingly, the cost to protect a single spring is relatively minor – just $1,000 to enclose the spring in concrete and piping which allows the water to flow freely into the jerry cans and other containers brought there by the villagers.

That amounts to only $83 per month for one year to provide families with safe water, and perhaps even most important, once completed the life span of each protected spring is between 20 and 30 years.

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